Clamp device for releasably securing a stack of sheets together while enabling the sheets to be successively torn away

ABSTRACT

A clamp device comprising a base member on which the edges of a stack of sheets of material can rest. A continuous length of wire is formed with opposite arms having pointed ends, and the wire is hingeably supported from the base member for movement between a raised inoperative position and a lowered operative position. In the operative position the topmost sheets of material are pierced by the pointed ends of the wire and the stack is securely clamped against the base member. In the inoperative position the pointed ends are raised above the stack. An operating handle is formed in the wire and the handle serves to move the arms between the operative and inoperative positions. A support is formed on the base member at a position to engage the operating handle when the pointed ends approach the operative position to force the pointed ends into the topmost sheets of material of the stack and to lock the handle to prevent return of the arms to the inoperative position. As the sheets are successively removed, the pointed ends progressively penetrate into the stack under the force imposed by the engagement of the operating handle with the support.

Langwell CLAMP DEVICE FOR RELEASABLY SECURING A STACK OF SHEETS. TOGETHER WHILE ENABLING THE SHEETS TO BE SUCCESSIVELY TORN AWAY [76] Inventor: John D. Langwell, 28 Branch Ave.,

Freeport, NY. 11520 Primary Examiner-Donald A. Griffin Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Roberts & Cohen Aug. 6, 1974 57 ABSTRACT A clamp device comprising a base member on which the edges of a stack of sheets of material can rest. A

continuous length of wire is formed with opposite arms having pointed ends, and the wire is hingeably supported from the base member for movement between a raised inoperative position and a lowered operative position. In the operative position the topmost sheets of material are pierced by the pointed ends of the wire and the stack is securely clamped against the base member. In the inoperative position the pointed ends are raised above the stack. An operating handle is formed in the wire and the handle serves to move the arms between the operative and inoperative positions. A support is formed on the base member at a position to engage the operating handle when the pointed ends approach the operative position to force the pointed ends into the topmost sheets of material of the stack and to lock the handle to prevent return of the arms to the inoperative position. As the sheets are successively removed, the pointed ends progressively penetrate into the stack under the force imposed by the engagement of the operating handle with the support.

16 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention:

The invention relates to a clamp device which can releasably secure a stack of sheets together and permit the removal of successive sheets from the stack while holding the remaining sheets intact.

2. Prior Art:

Numerous types of clamping devices are known for securing sheets of a stack together.

In a first well known type, the clamping device is formed as a pair of tongues which are hinge connected and biassed by a spring to clamp the material therebetween.

Such tongues exert a substantial pressure over a relatively large area and in order to remove one or more sheets, either the tongues are moved away from one another or the sheets torn away. Due to the clamping effect of the tongues, a residue of the sheet remains clamped between the tongues. Moreover, since the sheets are retained solely by the clamping effect of the tongues, the clamping forces are substantial and the clamp elements must be relatively rigid.

In a modified version, one of the tongues is fixed to a rigid board to form a clip board on which the sheets can be supported. However, as above, the pivotal tongue must be rigid and apply a strong clamping force onto the stack.

Various forms of staples are also known for securing a stack of sheets to a backing member and in this respect I call attention to my earlier US. Pat. Nos. 3,516,687 and 3,527,477 showing such staples. However, once these staples are installed it is not possible to add sheets to the stack and the only way in which the sheets can be removed is by tearing them away. Moreover, the use of a backing member is essential.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide a clamp device which can securely clamp a stack of sheets together while permitting addition of sheets to the stack or removal therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a clamp device in which a backing member is not necessarily employed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clamp device in which the stack of sheets is pierced at least in the topmost sheets thereof and wherein the clamp device progressively continues to pierce the stack as the sheets are successively removed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clamp device in which the sheets are so pierced that when they are removed by being torn away there is no residue remaining in the stack.

In accordance with the above and further objects the invention contemplates a clamp device comprising a base member on which at least the edges of the stack of a plurality of sheets of material can rest, piercing means supported from said base member for movement between a) an operative position in which the topmost sheets of material are pierced by the piercing means and the stack is securely clamped against the base member and b) an inoperative position in which the piercing means is released from the stack, operating means coupled to the piercing means to move the latter between the operative and inoperative positions, and

.support means on said base member positioned to engage said operating means as the piercing means approaches said operative position to apply force to the piercing means to cause the latter to pierce the topmost sheets of material of the stack and to lock said operating means to prevent return thereof to said inoperative position.

In further accordance with the invention the piercing means and operating means are resiliently coupled together to cause said operating means to be resiliently biassed when it engages the support means after the piercing means has reached its operative position, said operating means then acting on the piercing means to force the same deeper into the stack as the topmost sheets are successively removed.

According to a feature of the inveniton the piercing means includes an arm including an end with a pointed portion adapted to pierce the material of said stack, and means resiliently coupling said arm and said operating means to cause said arm to progressively penetrate into subsequent sheets of the stack as sheets are successively removed from the top of the stack under the force imposed by the support means on said operating means.

According to a further feature of the invention the I clamp device further comprises stop means supported on said base member for engaging said arm and limiting the movement thereof in the direction in which the arm pierces the sheets of the stack.

In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, the base member is provided with an aperture aligned with the path of travel of the arm to receive the pointed portion thereof after the same has passed through the remaining sheets of the stack on the base member.

In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, the support means comprises a flange member defining an undercut recess therebeneath in which said operating means is received and locked when the pointed portion of said arm has pierced the sheets of said stack. The operating means and arm are preferably integral and together with the means coupling them are constituted as a continuous length of resilient wire, said flange including a nose disposed in the path of travel of the operating means to cause said operating means to deflect laterally to pass the flange and enter said undercut recess under the resilient force produced by laterally deflecting said operating means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the clamp device according to the invention in an operative position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view showing the clamp device in operative position in solid lines and in inoperative position in dotted lines;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the clamp device; and

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the clamp device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawing, therein is shown a clamp device generally designated by numeral 1 which comprises a base member 2 having a front portion 3 which is formed with a bend 4 to provide a resilient upper surface 5 on which a stack of sheets 6 can be placed. The upper surface 5 is formed on a leg 7 which is spaced above a leg 8 to provide a space 9 therebetween for a purpose to be explained later.

The base member 2 is preferably made from a single sheet of material which is bent to the shape shown in the drawing. The base member may be made of metal or plastic material and it can be provided with a hole 10 by which it can be affixed to a backing member if so desired. Additionally, the base member can be provided with an adhesive layer 11 for the same purpose. The adhesive layer 11 can be provided with a strippable protective coating (not shown) which is removed when the base member is to be attached to a backing member.

Attached to the base member 2 by hinges 12 is a one piece resilient wire 13 which is bent to shape to provide parallel outer arms 14, 15 which are integral with an inner U-shaped portion 16 which serves as an operating handle to raise and lower the arms 14, 15 as will be explained later. The arms 14, 15 have respective pointed end portions 140, 150 which are adapted to pierce the stack of sheets 6 placed on the surface 5 of the base member.

Formed integrally with the base member 2 is an upright portion 17 which includes sections 18 and 19 having respective lateral flanges 20 and 21. These flanges are provided with undercut recesses 22, 23 which are adapted to receive the legs of the U-shaped operating handle 16 in an operative position when the pointed portions 14a, 15a pierce the stack of sheets 6. The flanges serve as a locking means to hold the operating handle in place as will be explained more fully later. The underside of the flanges 20, 21 are formed with inclined surfaces 24, 25 to hold the legs of the handle 16 in the locked position and resist lateral release thereof to the right in FIGS. 3 and 4. At the ends of the inclined surfaces 24, 25, there are formed rounded portions 26, 27 to receive the circular wire 13.

In operation, the operating handle 16 is raised to an upper position as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2 and this raises the arms 14, 15 to the raised inoperative position as shown in FIG. 2. In this position, a stack of sheets 6 can be placed on upper surface 5 and the edge of the sheets can be abutted against upright 17 which acts as a guide. Then the operating handle is pressed downwardly and this causes the pointed ends 14a, 15a of arms 14, 15 to pierce the stack of sheets 6. The operating handle is continued to be pressed downwardly and due to increased resistance to penetration of the pointed ends 140, 15a into the stack, the pointed ends reach a final position in which they pierce the topmost sheets of the stack without completely penetrating the entire stack. The continued downward pressing of the operating handle 16 after the pointed ends 14a, 15a no longer penetrate more deeply into the stack of sheets causes the handle to yield downwardly by torsional deformation of the legs of the handle 16 with the portions 30, 31 of the handle which are loosely engaged in hinges 12. This torsional deformation is a form of stored spring energy which acts to spring the handle upwardly. However, in the course of pressing the handle downwards its legs come into contact with rounded nose portions 32, 33 on the flanges 20, 21, and this causes lateral movement of the legs to the right as shown in dotted lines in FIGS. 3 and 4. When the legs pass the lower edges 34, 35 of the flanges 20, 21, the legs spring into the recesses 26, 27 to be locked therein against outward and upward movement. The upright 17 thus serves as a support means for holding the handle in a lowered stressed position and as a result the pointed ends 14a, 15a are urged with a constant force into the stack of sheets 6 not only to pierce the topmost sheets but also to clamp the sheets in the stack and hold the same intact on the base member. The sheets from the stack can be torn away individually or in groups, and due to the fact that only the pointed ends 140, 15a of the arms 14, 15 pierce the sheets, said sheets when torn away leave no residue in the clamp device. Furthermore, due to the continued application of force to the arms 14, 15 by the engagement of the operating handle in the support means, and the torsional stress imposed on the wire, the pointed ends 14a, will progressively pierce the remaining sheets of the stack as sheets are removed from the top thereof while constantly maintaining the stack intact.

As the thickness of the stack diminishes, the pointed ends will gradually approach the upper surface 5 of the base member 4. In order to preserve the sharp points of pointed ends 14a, 15a which are precision formed, the leg 7 is provided with apertures 36, 37 to enable the pointed ends to freely enter the space 9 between legs 7 and 8 without contacting any obstructing surfaces which could dull or destroy the sharp point of pointed ends 14a, 15a. The upright 17 is formed with shoulders 38, 39 which are positioned in the path of travel of the arms 14, 15 to limit downward movement thereof to a position in which the pointed ends 14a, 15a are disposed above the leg 8 and freely suspended in space 9 thereby to insure that the points of pointed ends 14a, 15a will not meet any obstruction.

After the stack of sheets has been exhausted it is only necessary to apply a slight downwards force on handle 16 to allow the handle to release its engagement with the upright 17 under the action of the spring energy whereafter the handle can be raised to lift the arms to their inoperative position to allow a fresh stack of sheets to be put in place on surface 5.

In order to limit the raised position of the arms 14, 15 so that the pointed ends will not pose a hazard, the hinges 12 are formed with recesses 40, 41 defining shoulders 42, 43 which contact arms 14 and 15 in the maximum raised position thereof.

It should be noted that the clamp device can be opened at any time and additional sheets added to the stack or removed therefrom as desired.

Numerous variations and modifications in the disclosed embodiment will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Thus, purely by way of example, the stop means formed by the shoulders 42, 43 may be replaced by stop members affixed to the upright 17 and positioned to limit the raised position of the arms 14, 15.

Moreover, instead of using a separate base member and wire, these can be integrally formed of a suitable resilient plastic material such as nylon or the like wherein the arms 14, 15 and the handle 16 are formed as respective tongues integrally connected to a common base.

What is claimed is:

1. A clamp device for releasably securing a stack of sheets of material together and enabling removal of successive sheets from the stack while holding the remainder of the stack intact, said clamp device comprising a base member on which at least the edges of a stack of a plurality of sheets of material can rest, piercing means supported from said base member for movement between a) an operative position in which the topmost sheets of material are pierced by the piercing means and the stack is securely clamped against the base member and b) an inoperative position in which the piercing means is released from the stack, operating means coupled to the piercing means to move the latter between the operative and inoperative positions, and support means on said base member positioned to engage said operating means as the piercing means approaches said operative position to apply force to the piercing means to cause the latter to pierce the topmost sheets of material of the stack and to lock said operating means to prevent return thereof to said inoperative position, said piercing means and operating means being resiliently coupled together to cause said operating means to be resiliently biassed when it engages the support means after the piercing means has reached its operative position, said operating means then acting on the piearcing means to force the same deeper into the stack as the topmost sheets are successively removed.

2. A clamp device as claimed in claim 1 comprising means hingeably supporting the piercing means from said base member for movement between the operative and inoperative positions.

3. A clamp device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base member includes an upright on which said support means is secured, said upright guiding the edges of the sheets of the stack to align said edges.

4. A clamp device as claimed in claim 3 comprising stop means on said upright for engaging said piercing means to limit the travel thereof in the direction of piercing of the sheets.

5. A clamp device as claimed in claim 1 comprising means supported on said base member for engaging said piercing means to limit the movement thereof to said inoperative position.

6. A clamp device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base member includes a portion with a bend therein defining an upper resilient surface on which said sheets are stacked.

7. A clamp device for releasably securing a stack of sheets of material together and enabling removal of successive sheets from the stack while holding the remainder of the stack intact, said clamp device comprising a base member on which at least the edges of a stack of a plurality of sheets of material can rest, piercing means supported from said base member for movement between a) an operative position in which the topmost sheets of material are pierced by the piercing means and the stack is securely clamped against the base member and b) an inoperative position in which the piercing means is released from the stack, operating means coupled to the piercing means to move the latter between the operative and inoperative positions, support means on said base member positioned to engage said operating means as the piercing means approaches said operative position to apply force to the piercing means to cause the latter to pierce the topmost sheets of material of the stack and to lock said operating means to prevent return thereof to said inoperative position, said piercing means comprising an arm including an end with a pointed portion adapted to pierce the material of said stack, and means resiliently coupling said arm and said operating means to cause said arm to progressively penetrate into subsequent sheets of the stack, as sheets are successively removed from the top of the stack, under the force imposed by the support means on said operating means.

8. A clamp device as claimed in claim 7 comprising stop means supported on said base member for engaging said arm and limiting the movement thereof in the direction in which the arm pierces the sheets of the stack.

9. A clamp device as claimed in 8 wherein said base member is provided with an aperture aligned with the path of travel of the arm'to receive the pointed portion thereof after the same has passed through the remaining sheets of the stack on the base member.

10. A clamp device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said piercing means comprises a continuous length of resilient wire integral with said operating means and including two of said arms extending parallel to one another in spaced relation.

11. A clamp device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said support means comprises a flange member defining an undercut recess therebeneath in which said operating means is received and locked when the pointed portion of said arm has pierced the sheets of said stack.

12. A clamp device as claimed in claim 11 wherein said operating means and said arm are integral and together with the means coupling them are constituted as a continuous length of resilient wire, said flange including a nose disposed in the path of travel of the operating member to cause said operating means to deflect laterally to pass the flange and enter said undercut recess under the resilient force produced by laterally deflecting said operating means.

13. A clamp device as claimed in claim 12 wherein said flange has an inclined surface which resists movement of the wire of the operating means out of said recess.

14. A clamp device for releasably securing a stack of sheets of material together and enabling removal of successive sheets from the stack while holding the remainder of the stack intact, said clamp device comprising a base member on which at least the edges of a stack of a plurality of sheets of material can rest, piercing means supported from said base member for movement between a) an operative position in which the topmost sheets of material are pierced by the piercing means and the stack is securely clamped against the base member and b) an inoperative position in which the piercing means is released from the stack, operating means coupled to the piercing means to move the latter between the operative and inoperative positions, and support means on said base member positioned to engage said operating means as the piercing means ap'- proaches said operative position to apply force to the piercing means to cause the latter to pierce the topmost sheets of material of the stack and to lock said operating means to prevent return thereof to said inoperative position, said piercing means and operating means being constituted as a single length of resilient wire which is bent to shape to produce torsional stress in the wire when the operating means engages the support means, said torsional stress acting to force the piercing means more deeply into the sheets of the stack.

15. A clamp device for releasably securing a stack of sheets of material together and enabling removal of successive sheets from the stack while holding the remainder of the stack intact, said clamp device comprising a base member on which at least the edges of a stack of a plurality of sheets of material can rest, clamping means supported from said base member for movement between an operative position in which the sheets of material are securely clamped against the base member and an inoperative position in which the clamping means is released from the stack, operating means coupled to the clamping means to move the latter between the operative and inoperative positions, and support means on said base member positioned to engage said operating means as the clamping means approaches said operative position to apply force to the clamping means to cause the latter to clamp the sheets of material of the stack and to lock said operating means to prevent return thereof to said inoperative position, said clamping means and operating means being constituted as a single length of resilient wire which is bent to shape to produce torsional stress in the wire when the operating means engages the support means after the clamping means has reached its operative position, said torsional stress acting to bias the clamping means against the stack and continue to apply clamping force as the sheets are successively removed.

16. A clamp device as claimed in claim 15 wherein said clamping means comprises an arm including an end with a pointed portion adapted to pierce the material of said stack. 

1. A clamp device for releasably securing a stack of sheets of material together and enabling removal of successive sheets from the stack while holding the remainder of the stack intact, said clamp device comprising a base member on which at least the edges of a stack of a plurality of sheets of material can rest, piercing means supported from said base member for movement between a) an operative position in which the topmost sheets of material are pierced by the piercing means and the stack is securely clamped against the base member and b) an inoperative position in which the piercing means is released from the stack, operating means coupled to the piercing means to move the latter between the operative and inoperative positions, and support means on said base member positioned to engage said operating means as the piercing means approaches said operative position to apply force to the piercing means to cause the latter to pierce the topmost sheets of material of the stack and to lock said operating means to prevent return thereof to said inoperative position, said piercing means and operating means being resiliently coupled together to cause said operating means to be resiliently biasSed when it engages the support means after the piercing means has reached its operative position, said operating means then acting on the piearcing means to force the same deeper into the stack as the topmost sheets are successively removed.
 2. A clamp device as claimed in claim 1 comprising means hingeably supporting the piercing means from said base member for movement between the operative and inoperative positions.
 3. A clamp device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base member includes an upright on which said support means is secured, said upright guiding the edges of the sheets of the stack to align said edges.
 4. A clamp device as claimed in claim 3 comprising stop means on said upright for engaging said piercing means to limit the travel thereof in the direction of piercing of the sheets.
 5. A clamp device as claimed in claim 1 comprising means supported on said base member for engaging said piercing means to limit the movement thereof to said inoperative position.
 6. A clamp device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base member includes a portion with a bend therein defining an upper resilient surface on which said sheets are stacked.
 7. A clamp device for releasably securing a stack of sheets of material together and enabling removal of successive sheets from the stack while holding the remainder of the stack intact, said clamp device comprising a base member on which at least the edges of a stack of a plurality of sheets of material can rest, piercing means supported from said base member for movement between a) an operative position in which the topmost sheets of material are pierced by the piercing means and the stack is securely clamped against the base member and b) an inoperative position in which the piercing means is released from the stack, operating means coupled to the piercing means to move the latter between the operative and inoperative positions, support means on said base member positioned to engage said operating means as the piercing means approaches said operative position to apply force to the piercing means to cause the latter to pierce the topmost sheets of material of the stack and to lock said operating means to prevent return thereof to said inoperative position, said piercing means comprising an arm including an end with a pointed portion adapted to pierce the material of said stack, and means resiliently coupling said arm and said operating means to cause said arm to progressively penetrate into subsequent sheets of the stack, as sheets are successively removed from the top of the stack, under the force imposed by the support means on said operating means.
 8. A clamp device as claimed in claim 7 comprising stop means supported on said base member for engaging said arm and limiting the movement thereof in the direction in which the arm pierces the sheets of the stack.
 9. A clamp device as claimed in 8 wherein said base member is provided with an aperture aligned with the path of travel of the arm to receive the pointed portion thereof after the same has passed through the remaining sheets of the stack on the base member.
 10. A clamp device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said piercing means comprises a continuous length of resilient wire integral with said operating means and including two of said arms extending parallel to one another in spaced relation.
 11. A clamp device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said support means comprises a flange member defining an undercut recess therebeneath in which said operating means is received and locked when the pointed portion of said arm has pierced the sheets of said stack.
 12. A clamp device as claimed in claim 11 wherein said operating means and said arm are integral and together with the means coupling them are constituted as a continuous length of resilient wire, said flange including a nose disposed in the path of travel of the operating member to cause said operating means to deflect laterally to pass the flange and enter said undercut recess under the resilienT force produced by laterally deflecting said operating means.
 13. A clamp device as claimed in claim 12 wherein said flange has an inclined surface which resists movement of the wire of the operating means out of said recess.
 14. A clamp device for releasably securing a stack of sheets of material together and enabling removal of successive sheets from the stack while holding the remainder of the stack intact, said clamp device comprising a base member on which at least the edges of a stack of a plurality of sheets of material can rest, piercing means supported from said base member for movement between a) an operative position in which the topmost sheets of material are pierced by the piercing means and the stack is securely clamped against the base member and b) an inoperative position in which the piercing means is released from the stack, operating means coupled to the piercing means to move the latter between the operative and inoperative positions, and support means on said base member positioned to engage said operating means as the piercing means approaches said operative position to apply force to the piercing means to cause the latter to pierce the topmost sheets of material of the stack and to lock said operating means to prevent return thereof to said inoperative position, said piercing means and operating means being constituted as a single length of resilient wire which is bent to shape to produce torsional stress in the wire when the operating means engages the support means, said torsional stress acting to force the piercing means more deeply into the sheets of the stack.
 15. A clamp device for releasably securing a stack of sheets of material together and enabling removal of successive sheets from the stack while holding the remainder of the stack intact, said clamp device comprising a base member on which at least the edges of a stack of a plurality of sheets of material can rest, clamping means supported from said base member for movement between an operative position in which the sheets of material are securely clamped against the base member and an inoperative position in which the clamping means is released from the stack, operating means coupled to the clamping means to move the latter between the operative and inoperative positions, and support means on said base member positioned to engage said operating means as the clamping means approaches said operative position to apply force to the clamping means to cause the latter to clamp the sheets of material of the stack and to lock said operating means to prevent return thereof to said inoperative position, said clamping means and operating means being constituted as a single length of resilient wire which is bent to shape to produce torsional stress in the wire when the operating means engages the support means after the clamping means has reached its operative position, said torsional stress acting to bias the clamping means against the stack and continue to apply clamping force as the sheets are successively removed.
 16. A clamp device as claimed in claim 15 wherein said clamping means comprises an arm including an end with a pointed portion adapted to pierce the material of said stack. 